Interlocking parquet block



pr 3, 1956 J. c. ROWLEY 2,740,167

INTERLOCKING PARQUET BLOCK Filed Sept. 5, 1952 John 6. Row/ey INVENTOR.

United States Patent INTERLOCKING PARQUET BLOCK John C. Rowley, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 5, 1952, Serial No. 308,071

1 Claim. (Cl. 20-8) This invention relates in general to flooring, and more specifically to individual blocks forming a flooring.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved parquet block which is of relatively simple design and may be quickly and accurately secured to other blocks to form a flooring having a pleasing appearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flooring block which has at the edges thereof hook-shaped connecting portions to forms a rigid joint between adjacent blocks, the undersides of the hook-shaped connecting portions which face upwardly being omitted in order to facilitate the engagement of the same beneath downwardly directed connecting portions of adjacent blocks.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved flooring which is formed of a plurality of similar blocks, said blocks having the undersides of certain edge portions thereof omitted in order to facilitate engagement of the blocks with each other, said omitted portions of the blocks forming space for excess adhesive in the bonding of the same to a base whereby the excess adhesive is not squeezed up between the joints in the blocks to form a messy construction.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved flooring block which may be formed of waste wood and include a plurality of individual strips secured together in edge abutting relation, the edges of said block having outwardly projecting connecting portrons.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the parquet blocks which is the subject of this invention and shows the general construction thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken through a floor formed by a plurality of blocks similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 and shows the junction between a pair of adjacent blocks;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view similar to Figure 2 and shows one of the blocks in the process of being engaged with the other; and

Figure 4 is an exploded plan view on a reduced scale of a plurality of blocks showing the manner in which blocks of different arrangements may be joined together to form a parquet.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figure 1 one of the parquet blocks which are the subject of this invention, the parquet block being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The parquet block is generally square in 2,740,167 Patented Apr. 3, 1956 outline and formed of a plurality of elongated strips 12 secured together in edge abutting relation by tongue and groove joints 14. It will be understood that the strips 12 may be in the form of scrap flooring material whereby the parquet block 10 may be economically feasible.

The block 10 includes a first side edge connection, which is generally hook-shaped in outline and facing upwardly, the connection being referred to by the reference numeral 16. It will be understood that the opposite edge of the parquet block 10 is provided with a similar connection. The edges of the block 10 adjacent the connection 16 are provided with complementary connections 18 which have the same general configuration and face downwardly.

Referring now to the illustration of Figure 3, it will be seen that there is illustrated a pair of blocks 10 in the process of being joined together. It will be noted that the connection 18 includes an edge portion which has a depth greater than half the depth of the block 10 and whose lower portion is cut away adjacent the edge of the block to form an upwardly open groove 20 and a downwardly projecting tongue 22.

The connection portion 16 of the block 10 has an edge portion of similar dimensions which is recessed on its upper surface to form a recess 24 and a tongue 26, the recess 24 being of a size to receive the tongue 22 and the recess 20 being of a size to receive the tongue 26.

Inasmuch as the connection portion 18 is disposed in overlying relation with respect to the connection portion 16 of an adjacent block, as best illustrated in Figure 2, it is necessary that the block 10 being laid must have its connection portion 16 moved to a position below the connection portion 18 in order to interconnect the two blocks. In order to accomplish this, the underside of the edge of the block adjacent the connection portion 16 is cut away along the line 28. With the lower portion of the edge of the block 10 adjacent the connection portion 16 being omitted, the block 10 may be tilted in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 in order to move the connection portion 16 into underlying engagement with the connection portion 18 of an adjacent block.

It will be noted that the blocks 10 are being laid on a rigid support in the form of a subflooring 30 and that they are being secured to the same by an adhesive 32. Inasmuch as the adhesive has a tendency to flow up between the joints in a floor being formed of blocks, the average block floor has a messy joint construction.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the omission of the lower portion of the block 10 in the vicinity of the connection portion 16 provides a space 34 between the connection portion 16 and the base 30 in which excess adhesive 32 may flow.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that by alternating the positions of the individual blocks 10 an ornamental floor or parquet may be formed. It will be understood that the arrangement of the individual blocks 10 may be varied as desired to produce various ornamental designs.

In recapitulation, it will be understood that the interlocking arrangement of this invention is applicable to not only the customary type of parquette block composed of strips of tongue and grooved flooring, but also to blocks made from a single piece of material, or from a number of pieces glued or otherwise fastened together either in edge abutting relationship or laminated to form a single piece.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoing description of the details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from the embodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new An interlocking block comprising a generally rectangular flat member having outwardly extending connection portions at the edges thereof, the undersides of certain of said connection portions slanting upwardly and outwardly to facilitate the engagement thereof with complementary connection portions of adjacent blocks, said connection portions including outwardly spaced vertical tongues thereon forming elongated hooks, certain of said hooks facing vertically upwardly with said certain of said hooks being directly above the upwardly and outwardly slanting undersides of said certain of said connecting portions, and others of said hooks facing vertically downwardly with adjacent hooks facing in opposite directions and being complemental.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 935,402 Piver Sept. 28, 1909 1,925,070 Livezey Aug. 29, 1933 2,453,918 Jansen Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 45,026 Norway Apr. 2, 1928 809,481 France Dec. 12, 1936 

